Hugo borchardt



(No Model.)

H. BORGHARDT. I MEANS FOR HOLDING PLATINUM SPONGES IN AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTERS.

No. 594,377. Patented Nov. 30,1897. v

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO BOROHARDT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

MEANS FOR HOLDING PLATINUM SPONG ES IN AUTOMATIC GAS-LIGHTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,377, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed June 18, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGO BORCHARDT, engineer, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Berlin, in the Kingdom of ,Prussia and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Holding Platinum Sponges in Automatic Gas-Lighters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Platinum sponges as used in connection with automatic lighters for gas-burners are, as is well known, so fragile that heretofore it has been found difficult to produce a holding means for the same which will securely hold them without injury to the material.

The object of this invention is to provide a clamping device for platinum sponges in the form of a spring clamp or holder, the arms of which are arranged to close when placed on the burner and so securely hold the platinum sponge.

The accompanying drawings represent three forms of clamping device drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a side view, a rear View, and a cross-section of the head of the igniting-burner provided with a clamp made of two flat springs. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are respectively a side View, a rear view, and a cross-section of a modification. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a front view and a cross-section of a further modification in which three spring-wires are employed to hold the platinum sponge.

In the arrangement shown at Figs. 1 to 3 the holder consists of two fiat springs a, in-

40 sorted in the socket 0, provided on the burner b, the ends a" of said springs being thereby caused to grip the igniting-sponge d with sufficient power to hold it securely without causing damage.

The modification shown at Figs. 4 to 6 differs from the first-mentioned arrangement by having a clamp constructed of wire instead of fiat material. One end of this wire spring is formed into a ring which is placed over the Serial No. 641,290. (No model.)

front of the conical igniting-sponge,while the other end of it presses against the back of the sponge. It is obvious that only little pressure from the spring is required to securely hold the sponge.

e are thin platinum wires which reach from the sponge to the burner, so as to facilitate the ignition, as is well known.

In the modification shown at Figs. 7 and 8 the platinum sponge is-held by three wires a, one of which presses 011 the back of it, while the other two are bent semicircular at the front end grip round the front part of the platinum sponge.

The form of the spring-clamps and the method of fixing them are immaterial so long as the clamping-arms have the necessary spring action and that their ends are adapted to fit the platinum sponge as far as possible. It is, however, necessary tovmake the socket receiving the tail end of the clamp in such manner as to produce a slight pressure thereon and thus cause the front ends to close and grip the platinum sponge. This arrangement of socket in thus producing a certain amount of friction on the tail end of the clamp forms a secure connection for the holder with the burner.

It is to be distinctly understood that in all the forms to be adopted the clamp will consist either of two parts, as shown in Figs. 1

to 3, or of a single part, as in Figs. 4 to 6, or

of three parts, as in Figs. 7 and 8, and, further, the arms of the clamp may be arranged side by side instead'of one behind the other, and theymay be carried in the socket either parallel with or at right angles or tangential to the burner. When the clamp is made in two separate parts, these parts may either both be held in the same opening in the socket or each part may be inserted in a separate opening in such socket.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-- l. The combination, with a burner having a laterally-projecting socket, of a platinum igniting-sponge, and spring-arms retained in the said socket and in contact with the said tact with the said sponge by their own elas sponge by their own elasticity, substantially ticity, substantially as set forth. [0 as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 2. The combination, with a burner having in presence of two Witnesses. 5 a laterally-projecting socket, of a platinum HUGO BORCIIARDT.

igniting-sponge,and two fiat spring-arms hav- Witnesses: ing curved upper end portions, said arms be- PAUL AULICI-I,

ing retained in the said socket and in con- HANS TAUSCHER. 

